The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-01

ing. There were several floral offerings,
among them a wreath of pond lines, the
gift OF the relatives of the deceased, and a
large floral heart from Miss Decker, teacher
of the Monday night Chinese school at the
church. A brother of the deceased,
dressed in all particulars ike nm,
except that his blouse was black instead
of Blue, and that he wore black ribbons
around his ankles, sat beside the coifln
with covered head as chief mourncr during
the services at the church Some seventy
five or eighty spectators were in attendance,
about a third Of them being Chinese. After
this ceremony the body was removed by
hearse to Evergreens Cemetery, the mourn
ers, all Chinese, following in carriages AT
the grave the party was met by another
party of Chinese, which was attended by an
express wagon, in which were a large trunk
and several other articles. All stood quietly
by until the undertaken had finished the IN
torment and placed the floral pieces on The
grave and had retired.
Then they began their peculiar ceremony.
First, the trunk was removed about ten
yards from the grave, and, being opened,
disclosed new feather bed, large red
wooden blanket, patchwork quilt and
complete suit of clothing. These were set
fire to and burned, piece by piece, the trunk
forming the fireplace, and burning with the
rest. After the bedding and clothing had
been thus reduced to ashes, Undertaken
Graham was called upon to smooth over
a level place at the foot OF
the grave about yard square. Upon
spread large sheet of clean brown wrap.
ping paper Then a whole roast chicken, on
a china plate, was produced and placed upon
the brown paper spread, together with four
China bowls that were now partly filled
with wine, while part Of bottle OF wine
was poured over the roast chicken After
this six wax taperS were stuck in the earth
on each side of the new-made mound,
several punches of invocation papers were
set fire to- and with these the tapers were
lighted. While these burned the relatives,
two cousins and brother, repeated ritual
in an almost naudible voice.
This done a hole was dug III the side of the
grave at the foot and fiVe-quart tin kettle
full Of cooked rice was deposited in it and
covered with tin cover, While two Chi
namcn were engaged in this, another burned
pair of chopSEcks over the tapers;, A
stone Jug holding about five gallons, full of
some kind Of liquor, the character of which
tue ceebrants refused to impart was now
deposited n the surface of the ground on
the opposite side of the spread from the rice.
The arrangements for the benefit of the de-
parted Celestial was seemingly completed
with this, and the balance of the ceremony
partOOk OF the nature OF personal nonOfS 10
him. Another sheet of paper was laid upon
the ground before the spread of chicken and
wine, the brother and two cousins knelt
upon the paper, one Of them sprinkled the
contents of two of the bowls upon the feast,
all three bowed themselves three times to
the earth, and upon the third time reverent-
ly and slowly kissed the ground. This COM
pleted the ceremony. Upon arising from
their knees they turned to undertaken
Graham and said, THAT is all, ;" and turned
away Having a bottle of wine left they
gave it to the undertakers assistants.
While all this ceremony was in progress
four of the Cinnamon present stood off at a
distance by themselves, taking no part in
the services. They, unlike the rest. were
dressed in the prevailing style in this coun-
try and called themselves Christians. They
said the ceremony just performed was the
kind prescribed by the Chinese custom for
men Of the social condition and rank of the
deceased who was a merchant.